Description
Here is a wonderful Pyritized Paraspirifer bownockeri. A very showy piece. There is a little residual matrix on the shell.
It is a large brachiopod reaching a maximum of 3 inches in length. It is believed to have inhabited shallow mudflats. Sitting on its pedicle valve it was a filter feeder.
At one time Ohio produced many Pyritized Paraspirifer bownockeri shells and many other species but with the closing of quarries they have become VERY scarce. Because the shells are covered by iron pyrite – fools gold which makes them very attractive to look at. They generally average around 2 inches long but have been found up to 3 inches. There are also many other species of shells found in those sediments also pyritized.
This Pyritized Paraspirifer bownockeri is 1 3/8 inches long. There is some residual matrix on the MUCROSPIRIFER and a small piece is missing..
The block is an irregular 3 1/2 by 4 inches. The matrix is slightly fragile.
This is the specimen you will receive, and again pictures do not do these pyritized brachs justice.
This is a wonderfully pyritized PARASPIRIFER though the pictures do not do it justice.
They are no longer readily available as the quarries have shut down or have denied access due to regulations. It is still possible to purchase these in local rock shops and rarely at rock shows.
This PARASPIRIFER is 1 3/8 inches long at the base.
The block is an irregular 3 1/2 by 2 inches.
This is the specimen you will receive, and again pictures do not do these pyritized brachs justice.
